Maharashtra has announced that a seven-hour nightly curfew will be established in all cities and municipal corporate areas of the state. The curfew from 23:00 to 6:00 a.m. is imposed from Tuesday, December 22, 2020 for 15 days until January 5, 2021.
What caused the curfew?
A high-level meeting called by Maharashtra Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray decided to implement the night curfew in all cities of the state. The government has indicated two main reasons for the move.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said cases of violation of social distancing rules have been observed in Mumbai. To avoid an increase in Covid-19 cases during the upcoming New Year celebrations due to these violations, a curfew has been established. “This is not a normal New Year and that is why we cannot have normal celebrations. The curfew is being imposed to ensure that such violations are not repeated, ”he said.
See: UK passengers in Mumbai sent to institutional quarantine
Additionally, the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in the UK following the outbreak of a new coronavirus mutation has also caused global concern. The Maharashtra government has called the move a precautionary measure and has also asked people to remain vigilant for the next 15 days.
What are the new rules?
Chahal explained the difference between a total lockdown and a nightly curfew as “while in lockdown, people cannot leave their homes. In a curfew, more than 5 people cannot gather outside during the specified hours. Therefore, offices that operate overnight or something like transporting dairy products can still operate. Taxis, cars and rickshaws will also work as before. “
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Here are new changes implemented due to the night curfew:
• All cities and areas of municipal corporations will be under a night curfew for 7 hours from 23:00 to 6:00 am from December 22, 2020 until January 5, 2021.
• More than five people cannot gather outside during curfew. However, offices, taxis, cars and auto-rickshaws can operate at night following current regulations.
• All travelers arriving at Mumbai airport from European countries and the Middle East would be placed in institutional quarantine.
• Travelers can go home after the quarantine period is over. Additionally, the Covid-19 RT-PCR test for these travelers would be taken on the fifth or seventh day.
• People from countries other than Europe and the Middle East will be prescribed a home quarantine.
• Municipal commissioners would organize temporary institutional quarantine facilities near airports and hotels.
• Air travel between India and the UK was suspended on Monday and all flights already scheduled to arrive would carry about 1,000 passengers, who would be transported to 2,000 hotel rooms arranged for them. Passengers showing symptoms of Covid-19 would be transferred to GT Hospital.
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